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Overview:
A focused life loss and card draw strategy helmed by Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls, utilizing demons, group slug effects, and reanimation to create consistent life loss triggers while maintaining card advantage.
Primer:
The deck operates on multiple axes of life loss, combining passive damage effects like Underworld Dreams and Fate Unraveler with active threats like Archon of Cruelty and Sheoldred, the Apocalypse. The commander serves as both a card advantage engine and growing threat, triggering from any life loss during opponents' turns. The deck includes a strong reanimation package to cheat out larger threats early and recover from removal.
The optimal play pattern involves establishing early mana acceleration through artifacts, deploying passive life loss effects, and then transitioning into larger threats through either casting or reanimating them. The deck can close games through combat damage, accumulated life loss, or infinite combinations with Exquisite Blood. The high creature count ensures consistent pressure while the various life loss effects steadily whittle down opponents.
Weaknesses:
- Vulnerable to graveyard hate, which disrupts the reanimation package
- Reliant on permanent-based effects that can be removed
- Can struggle against heavy lifegain strategies
- Somewhat vulnerable to fast combo decks that can win before the life loss accumulates
Most Important Cards:
- Exquisite Blood
- Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
- K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
- Bolas's Citadel
- Living Death
- Archon of Cruelty
- Underworld Dreams
- Reanimate
- Vilis, Broker of Blood
- Razaketh, the Foulblooded
Attribute Ratings:
- Speed: 6/10
- Resilience: 7/10
- Consistency: 7/10
- Interaction: 5/10
Rating Justification:
The deck operates at a focused competitive level, typically establishing meaningful board presence by turns 4-5 and threatening wins around turns 7-8. While it includes powerful cards and synergies, it lacks the fast mana and consistent early interaction needed for higher power levels. The deck's ability to maintain pressure through multiple angles (combat, life loss, card advantage) while having access to reanimation for recovery places it firmly in the focused-optimized range.
Final power level rating: 6.5 - 7.0
The deck's land base is well-constructed with 34 lands, including utility lands for additional value (Phyrexian Tower, Bojuka Bog) and a good mix of dual lands. The color requirements are well-supported, though the deck might benefit from a few more lands given its high curve. The deck has moderate reliance on its commander but can function without it, and its group slug effects make it naturally suited for multiplayer games.
Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
